Sunday, February 3, 2008

Jeff Allen scored four points in a 10-2 run to start the extra period and Deron Washington got a haircut as the youth-laden Hokies won their third straight.

Virginia Tech (14-8, 5-3 AC C) is not supposed to be doing this, not with six freshman in the top nine players, including the starting guards. But no one has told them that…

The Cavaliers (11-9, 1-6) lost for the seventh time in eight games and are off to their worst start in the ACC since the 2004-05 team lost seven of its first eight.

Less than three weeks ago, the Hokies won at Virginia in overtime on a driving layup by Washington that dropped as the buzzer sounded. He was almost the hero again.

Tied at 52 with 20 seconds left, Sean Singeltary's 3-point try missed, and Washington went high to grab the rebound. He then sprinted downcourt and followed Vassallo's missed drive with a putback dunk with 13.9 seconds left to give Tech the lead.

Washington then was assigned to guard Singletary, and Singletary (26 points) drove down the right side, drew J.T. Thompson in help defense and was hammered by both as he attempted to shoot, hitting the floor hard. He then made both free throws to tie the game.

The Hokies should have won in regulation when Thompson was all alone under the basket to put back Thorns' shot, but his shot came up short (it appeared that the rim blocked his dunk attempt), and Delaney rebounded and missed, too…Yike.

That sent the game to overtime, just like the first Commonwealth Clash a few weeks ago. And just like the first meeting, the Hokies took it from there.

In the final seconds, the fans at sold-out Cassell Coliseum serenaded the reeling Cavaliers with a favorite chant: "Just like football! Just like football!"

WHERE IN THE WORLD...?

The way it is...

The way it was...

TAH DAMN GOOD CAUSE OF THE MONTH

NORTHERN HAITI HOPE FOUNDATION: After our recent trip to Haiti, we vowed to do more to help. Clean water is a critical issue for all Haitians. It's particularly problematic for those in rural areas. For $2,000 to $5,000 we can build a new well in a rural village as part of a program facilitated by the St. Barthelemy School and the Warrenton, VA Rotary. Send your donation to Wells of Health and Hope, c/o GPetty-VTA, 38 Garrett Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 and keep your eye on T.A.H. for progress reports. Thanks! CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MORE INFO.